Off topic - Freshwater Tropical Aquarium

[jay8354]

Hi all,

Sorry for being off topic but would like to get some ideas from the forum members who have experience in setting up aquariums for Tropical Freshwater fishes.

I am going to get a tank of around 800 litre capacity. Thinking of setting it up as a planted aquarium. Currently thinking of Dwarf Gouramis, snails, so forth.

I would like to know if anyone have any advice / experiences to share. Any recommendations or books they think is good also appreciated.

Again Apologies for going off topic.

[Colt45]

I can't help , but I do believe our own Ken Gargett is quite the aquarium enthusiast....

[shrink]

» I can't help , but I do believe our own Ken Gargett is quite the aquarium

» enthusiast....

So I understand...

[El Presidente]

Kens fish died in the now famous Friday the 13th move to his mums house.

From what he told me it was a scene akin to Nemo meeting Freddy Krueger.

Seriously Jay, don't take Kens Advice. He struggles to look after himself let alone his fish. It is an aquatic "Lord of the Flies"

[smokum]

Many snails multiply like rabbits..I wouldn't intentionally put them in a tank. 800 litres is a good sized tank. I haven't read any good books in many years. Set up a community tank with many different species with a planted tank. Planted tanks have their own set of issues though so it's best to find a good book like you mentioned to figure out the best way to go. Filtration in todays aquarums are top notch and real scientific stuff so keeping good water quality should not be an issue.I used to raise Discus and Angelfish before I started breeding humans !!

[El Presidente]

As for your question :-D

I use to breed tropical fish many moons ago and you will get great advice from others no doubt.

1. Get the best hardware you can afford (Filters/Pumps/heater).

2. Best sand/gravel and make sure it has been cleaned thoroughly.

3. Make sure introduced plants are treated for bacterial growths (your dealer will have the stuff). Same goes with rocks/coral/timber etc.

4. small catfish are better than snails.

5. Have a climate control centre on the tank with audible alarms (temp/ph/alkalinity)

6. Get rid of aggresive fish.

7. Small Gouramis, Angels, Neons, Mollies are all great and add colour. Avoid single fish species in a tank, work in pairs or more. Plenty of catfish/leaches to clean.

8. acclimatise the tank for a minimum of a week before introducing fish. Introduce slowly.

9. Full clean of a tank is traumatic. Most fish die of stress (which shows itself as disease) Acclimatise water changes and change periodically (introduce 1/3 at a time). Unless you have the ability to have a seperate tank (acclimatised) do not change water all at once.

My fish all died in the plague of 94. So take advice with a grain of salt

[shrink]

Plenty of catfish/leaches to clean.

Loaches, Rob, not leeches. Haven't you got enough of those already?

[El Presidente]

» Plenty of catfish/leaches to clean.

»

» Loaches, Rob, not leeches. Haven't you got enough of those already?

I had a traumatic experience with leeches on a 1700km dirtbike ride with 14 other members through North Queenslands rainforests. After a long and tiring fifth day "shagga" Bowden and I jumped into what looked like a nice waterfall with a natural pool at the bottom. Two beers later we exited the water in our natural glory only to find leeches on our good selves....everywhere.....and I mean .....everywhere.

You have to help each other get leeches out of certain places .......one of the most traumatic experiences of my life

[GoSteelers]

Don't know how your water quality is but if you start with a full tank of de-ionized water you are getting a great headstart on a clean system.

[Colt45]

» You have to help each other get leeches out of certain places

»

Now that sounds like something straight out of the bathhouse diaries....

[patrick]

You can check out http://www.tetrafish.com/. They even have a knowledgable forum to help you out!

Patrick

[Ken Gargett]

» Kens fish died in the now famous Friday the 13th move to his mums house.

»

» From what he told me it was a scene akin to Nemo meeting Freddy Krueger.

»

» Seriously Jay, don't take Kens Advice. He struggles to look after himself

» let alone his fish. It is an aquatic "Lord of the Flies"

survial of the fittest - i think of myself as a sort of maritime charles darwin. and the winner is, and still alive, some catfish-like thingees. the rest failed to survive a small move despite my best efforts. whusses. catfood, if i had a cat. these things, which may not be receiving 5 star care at the moment until i re-settle, would survive nuclear war, along with cockroaches and chambourcin vines.

on a more serious note, th catfish-like thingees are great cleaners. worth a couple to help keep the aquarium clean, because lord knows i won't.

[El Presidente]

» survial of the fittest - i think of myself as a sort of maritime charles

» darwin. and the winner is, and still alive, some catfish-like thingees.

» the rest failed to survive a small move despite my best efforts. whusses.

» catfood, if i had a cat. these things, which may not be receiving 5 star

» care at the moment until i re-settle, would survive nuclear war, along

» with cockroaches and chambourcin vines.

» on a more serious note, th catfish-like thingees are great cleaners. worth

» a couple to help keep the aquarium clean, because lord knows i won't.

If Ken had a dog it would have to hunt for its own food.....and then hand over 50% of the kill.

[Ken Gargett]

and clean up after itself!